Friday, March 30, 2012

Hi blog-o-sphere friends! I've missed you these last few weeks. Last spring I stepped away from the keyboard because of medical issues, but I'm happy to say that this little vacation was all positive. Several lucky puzzle pieces all clicked into place a few weeks ago, and my family was blessed to be able to take a short-notice trip to the United Kingdom.

I love England. Maybe it's a whimsical culmination of living through the eyes of Shakespeare and Rowling and Austen and the Brontes, but my heart just feels happy there. I have to admit, too, that on our train rides through the country side, the theme from Downton Abbey played in my mind on a continuous loop. Sharing these memories with my husband and my boys only makes it more special.

As I missed a few Road Trip Wednesdays, I'll sneak in that the best book I read in March was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. It had been over ten years since I first read it, and it truly is phenomenal. My boys loved it as much as I did, and I'm glad we were able to finish in time for our trip.

We spent some time in London, took a side trip to Bath, and ended in Edinburgh, Scotland. I'll be back to blogging on great books and writing soon, and until then, here are a few highlights from our trip.
Son #1 at Stonehenge
Sons 1 and 2 at the Tower of London
The White Tower
Tower Bridge
View of Parliament from the Eye

Sons 1 and 2 on top of Arthur's Seat at Holyrood Park
The Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh
What is a phone booth?
Edinburgh Castle
Views in Edinburgh

Music for today: You guessed it! The theme from Downton Abbey

14 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness! I'm having nostalgia now... Stonehenge is one of my favorite places on the earth... there is magic there. It's thick in the air, isn't it??? And I haven't been to Edinburgh... SO JEALOUS. All the pics are so pretty. Thanks for sharing! :D

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    1. Yes, it is. But then again, I kind of feel that way the whole time I'm in England. Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Edinburgh is the next place on my list I want to visit. We did Tuscany last time but geez that was so long ago already. The economy sure has put a damper on vacations in my house.

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    1. Yes, I was really surprized at how 'old' it feels there. I think my boys enjoyed Scotland the most. We were so blessed to be able to go, and I highly recommend renting a flat instead of a hotel, at least in London. It was much more reasonable, and we had a kitchen, so it saved us money on meals, too.

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  3. Lucky you! Looks like you had a fabulous time visiting some of my favorite places! :) Glad you re-read HP, too. And how great that you were able to share it all with your family. Welcome home!

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  4. I also want to mention that I've nominated you for the Award of your choice -- here.

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    1. Thank you so much, Sara! It was really a great trip.

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  5. So exciting :) We head off to Scotland (and a few days in London) a month from tomorrow! This just got me even more excited. Glad you and your family had such a good time :)

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    1. I'm excited for you! It was so much fun. Email me or tweet me if you have any questions; I'd be happy to share!

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  6. Oh glad you are having a good trip. You've fueled my travel bug inside hehe.

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    1. When we got back, we rushed to a matinee of Hunger Games once the kids were back in school, and I thought of you. I hope you had a fun night!

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  7. I am soooo jealous! Those are some of the most awesome places on earth and some day I will see them for myself, I hope. I love you pictures. Thanks for sharing and glad you had such a wonderful opportunity to travel.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. If the opportunity ever comes, I recommend grabbing it and running with it. :)

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  8. Great pictures! I love England, too! I've gone more than a few times and it never gets old. I'm glad you loved it, too!

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